Social Intranet Software: Time to Thank a New Era!

Here is short conversations that happened over my Thanks Giving lunch. I thought it will add value to you.

I was over at my friend’s house for our Thanks Giving lunch. It is a big family and friends affair. My friend Joe (The host of the party, who heads a P&L unit of over a billion dollars for a fortune 500 company) and I were the only two people watching the game. In years gone by, everyone would at least watch at least part of the game, but this time it was very different. The kids were on their devices (Phones, tablets, computers) yet seemed to be all alone. It felt like every person was just attached to their device and seemed far away from the people right next to them.

social intranet software

Joe turned to me and said “Harsha, it is awfully quite this time for Thanks Giving” The game was not interesting, I turned to Joe and said,

“ Do you realize why? Take a look around,

1. Kids have their own game box or mobile device logged into internet games with other people as avatars on a game!

2. The young adults listening to music that is a raving hit for three days, created by a group of people who uploaded it on a social network from across the world!!

3. Let alone people of our age, even seniors are connecting with family and friends on their favorite social networking site!!!

4. In fact, my own little personal survey found that at least 40% of the people on the road are on their phone (Scary) and over half of them are on their social network!”

Bottom-line, there is a complete change in the way people interact with others. Because of technology and social networks people interacting with others only through their device primarily because they don’t have deal with other people and their baggage but can actually get to work/play/interact with them at the same time!”

Bottom-line, there is a complete change in the way people interact with each other. Because of technology and social networks people interact with others only through their device primarily because they don’t have deal with other people and their baggage but can actually get to work/play/interact with them at the same time!”

Joe is sharp guy he says, “I get it! You are telling the people have gone virtual and social”

“Great!” I continued “and these are the very people that are working for us in our organizations! Knowing what makes them tick will enhance our company performance beyond imagination.”

Joe, interrupts me.

“Makes sense Harsha but what can I do in my company that will help us get our people to collaborate in this manner?

1. I have an intranet website that nobody uses

2. Our best employees/’rain markets’ (the empowered employees) hate our IT systems because they have to go through meaningless approvals and data entry

3. And our customers can’t work with us on our IT systems and collaborate with us like a social network

Even if I want to, how can we do anything?

“Joe, the answer it to think out of the box. With the changes happening, ‘The IT software of today is dead! We have to operate companies as a social network!’” I claimed.

“What do you mean?” Joe stopped me.

I went on,

“The software’s that run our companies should not just be electric forms and virtual fences but enable us to:

1. Help us deliver value to customers by making them a part of the project execution rather than someone out there to that will beat the service provider or suffer the wrath of bad delivery

2. Enable empowered employees to grow and add value in the organization by having objective incentives on leadership”

“You are right”, said Joe, “We have to rethink and use enterprise social networks to help grow our companies”

“Joe”, I continued, “Enterprise social networks today are still in their infancy. What we need is something beyond today’s social networks that can help employee relate to companies and a completely new way to operate companies without disturbing your current IT systems and organization structure.”

The game ended, we were spared of the misery. Joe stood up and said, “Harsha, I want to know more about this. I want try this out. When can we meet?”

“Just come on by to our office in Mentor, OH on Tuesday morning 8:00AM and We sure can help you”.

If you want to know more about how to operate your company as a social network and its benefits to your organization, please feel free to contact us any one of us at Vantage Agora.

About Vantage Agora:

Vantage Agora (VA) is a global provider of back-office solutions, custom IT services and consulting services for companies in the insurance, finance, and healthcare sectors. As a SAS70 Type II audited company, Vantage Agora utilizes advanced data processing and quality control systems on a secured network to ensure efficient, comprehensive management of back-office functions such as payroll, accounting, financial and administrative tasks. Founded in 2004, Vantage Agora has offices in Cleveland and Dallas.